There is every reason to believe that the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade is not disposed to conducting the local government election in the state any time soon as he has budgeted only N357, 230,251.19 in 2018 for the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC).

This is a far cry from the N1,562,230,251.19 budgeted for CROSIEC in 2017. Even with his amount, CROSIEC, whose responsibility is to organize local council election, said it did not have enough funds to conduct the long-awaited polls last year.

CROSIEC Chairman, Dr. Mike Ushie, had revealed last year that one of the reasons the polls could not be conducted was lack of funds. Another reason he gave was that there were litigations in court over the polls.

Observers have reasoned that if CROSIEC could not hold the council polls when N1.5 billion was allocated to it in 2017, is it when one fifth of that amount is made available this year that the election will be held?

The tenure of council chairmen expired on 16 December 2016 and since then civil servants have been holding forte as Heads of Local Government Administration in the 18 local government councils in the state.

There are other interesting aspects of the 2018 Budget of Kinetic Crystallization worth highlighting. For instance, N100 million was budgeted for the fuelling of the Calabar Street Light Generator in the 2018 budget, while N58, 625,000.00 was also budgeted for fuelling Obudu Street light generator in 2018. Nothing was budgeted for these items in the 2017 fiscal year.

There is a slight increase in the allocation to the state water board from N3,654,423,361.61 in 2017 to N3,706,412,717.61 in the 2018 budget. It is seen as one of the most notoriously incompetent agencies of government as it has been unable to supply potable water regularly to the residents of the city of Calabar.

It was not surprising that the Managing Director of the agency, Dr. Godwin Igile was recently chastised by members of the state House of Assembly for supplying coloured water to residents and seeing nothing wrong with that. And when the water supplied is not terribly dirty, the taps remain dry for months and residents go in search of water from boreholes sold at exorbitant rate.

The governor maintained the allocation of N38,535,000.00 for the Home Grown School Feeding programme in the 2018 fiscal year. It was the same amount allocated last year.

The budget for the Ministry of Health was also increased by almost N51 billion, from N6,605,523,811.52 in 2017 to N56,979,983,824.96 in 2018.

Ayade Cares, the health insurance, scheme was allocated N10,561,200,000.00 in 2018, while N11,561,200,000.00 was allocated in 2017.

It is difficult to explain why there was no allocation for the Greater Calabar Capital City Development Authority in the budget of 2018 unlike in 2017 when N72 million was allocated to it.

The budget for the Ministry of Agriculture was also slashed in 2018 by more than half from what was allocated in 2017. While N24,370,139,817.00 was allocated in 2017, the amount allocated in 2018 is N11,423,352,376.85.

Other allocations are: Ministry of Works N83,278,383,676.21 in 2018, an increase of almost N10 billion from the 2017 allocation which was N73,094,785,424.29; Road Maintenance Agency: N4,258,934,823.23 in 2018, while N3,149,576,202.50 was allocated in 2017; Waste Management Agency: N3,767,821,191.20 in 2018, while in 2017 the sum of N4,031,321,191.20 was allocated.

Also, Ministry of Education got N30,048,005,365.08 this year while last year it was allocated N18,653,071,881.93; this year SUBEB got N5,846,452,697.84 and in 2017 it got N7,910,222,070.36; CRUTECH was allocated N10,926,753,327.71 in the 2018 budget, while in the 2017 budget, it got N10,086,324,470.38; the Ministry of Youth Development, Orientation & Sports got N8,956,560,356.56 in 2018 and got N1,126,097,848.40 in last year's budget.

The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) was allocated N214,731,491,.39 in 2018 and in 2017, it got N244,141,727.74; and the State Fire Service was allocated N551,707,087.70 this year, while last year it got N704,747,906.36.

A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mr Godwin Akpama has endorsed Governor Ben Ayade for the 2019 governorship election.

The immediate past chairman of Inter-Party Advisory Committee (IPAC) and one time governorship candidate of the Progressive Peoples Alliance(PPA) told TNN in Calabar, the state capital, that he took the decision to back the Peoples Democratic Party governor because of his disillusionment with the actions of APC leaders in the state whom he said were pursuing personal interest rather than the interest of the party.

He told our correspondent that their actions do not portray them as people who were serious about producing the governor in 2019.

According to him, “APC leaders in the state should stop deceiving us. They go behind to collect contracts from Ayade. They brought someone we rejected as chairman of the party in the state to impose on us.

“The chairmanship tussle in the state cannot be resolved by the national leadership of the party. It is a state matter. Why would normal party men choose to polarise the party instead of working in one accord, unity and oneness, when they know that unity itself is strength? This is absolute madness!”

He further stated that “these people can no longer fool us. Are you aware that these people who claimed to be stalwarts of the APC in the state merely claim that they are committed members of the APC but behind they collect juicy contracts from Ben Ayade and make us look like fools? So who is fooling who?”

Akpama said he was seeking Ayade's re-election in 2019 as a patriotic citizen of the state, stressing that his advice is in the best interest of the state.

Asked if his action did not amount to anti-party activity for which he could be expelled, he said no one could expel him and if they do, he would take to them to court to seek redress.

“When President Muhammadu Buhari came to perform the ground breaking in Cross River State, did his party expel him because he came to a PDP state to perform the ceremony? Here in Cross River, who is in APC now that was not in PDP?” he asked.

The erstwhile leading critic of Ayade said APC leaders in the state had demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that they don't have the capacity to manage their internal affairs and for that reason, the supporters don't need a soothsayer to reveal this to them.

“I am honest about what I am saying. Some party leaders are just there to satisfy their personal interest instead of the interest of party members. I expect them to show patriotism to the state by declaring their support for Ayade's second term just as almost everyone is doing so that he can be in a proper position to deliver whatever good he has for the state.”

When asked to point to what Ayade had done in the past three years to deserve a second term, he claimed the governor was doing well, adding that he iwasaddressing critical aspects of the state's economy through the implementation of projects that would boost the agricultural sector of the state.

He mentioned the on-going construction of rice processing mill in Ogoja, and cocoa processing factory in Ikom Local Government Area, the rice city in Calabar, and successful implementation of the Anchor Borrowers scheme.

Akpama also pointed at the industrial park in Calabar which he said reveal a lot about the governor's effort at making the state an industrial hub.

Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike appears ready for a fight with the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris as the governor insists on empowering the neighbourhood watch corps and allowing them to carry arms.

The IGP has since warned that no security group or organisation created by a state government was allowed to carry guns. But section 2 of the new law makes provision for the corps to be armed.

Already, the PDP in the state has said that the Wike 'policemen'would be very helpful during the local government elections planned to hold in the state in June this year. The opposition APC has already opposed the establishment of the corps and the conduct of the election.

Indications of a face-off between Wike and the IGP emerged on Saturday when the police image maker in the state, Nnamdi Omoni said in a telephone interview with TNN that the order of the IGP was irreversible as it concerned the bearing of arms by persons outside the police and other recognised federal government security agencies.

In fact, from the way Omoni spoke, it was clear that the police had no knowledge of the details of the bill before and while it was being processed by the house of assembly. When asked to talk in this regard specifically, he said he would prefer to talk about it later. He had earlier said the police high command were still examining the new law.

But the law has attracted knocks from a cross section of the society, including lawyers, the civil society, members of the opposition and other critical stakeholders.

The International Society for Social Justice and Human Rights (ISSJHR), for instance, rose against the bill even before its passage. Chancellor of the group, Dr. Omenazu Jackson, said during e media briefing in Port Harcourt that the bill(as it then was), was not necessary because the corps would not only engage in vigilante services but would bear arms.

He had asked: “Who and how will the boys be recommended for employment? Which ministry will they report to and under which civil service rules will they be subjected? Under which command will the Corps report to and who determines what misdemeanor are within the corps' operations?

“Who vets the moral standards of these corps members since section 2 of the bill permits the corps members to carry fire arms (guns)? Will it not be counter- productive since the national security systems are still active in their responsibilities of securing lives and properties? Is this not a total vote of no confidence on the nation's security architecture?

“What is the role of our traditional rulers if youths will be armed in their domains to secure it? Is it not another attempt to subjugate royal fathers further and erode their powers and question their credibility? The effectiveness of our communal method of maintaining law and order had not been questionable, hence it outweighs all logic behind the Neighbourhood Watch Corps”.

Dr Dakuku Peterside, a former gubernatorial candidate of the APC in the state in his reaction quried the intentions of the governor on the new agency and said the governor had merely set up a militia group to fight opponents.

Several Rivers people have voiced their opinions against some provisions of the bill that seek members to bear arms, in addition to the governor having the powers to direct the agency to carry out arrest and prosecution of accused persons.

“Governor Wike has claimed on several occasions that the state is safe, it is therefore surprising that the same governor is now setting up a private militia as an alternative to law enforcement agencies.

“It is obvious to the least discerning person that his contraption is to arm his private militia. This is an attempt to use a legal platform to illegally arm his militia. The fear of everybody in the state is the antecedent of the governor, who has been accused of associating with touts and criminals and it is not surprising that some of them have been given appointments by the same Wike.”

Peterside, who is also the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) alerted members of the public that Wike had, on numerous occasions, said he did not have trust the law enforcement agencies, hence this may be the reason for creating a private army.

“This is one creation that Rivers people will vehemently reject. Never in the history of the state has any governor sought to do what Wike is trying to do now. Arming his militia is a signpost of danger and only those who are discerning enough will understand the thinking of the governor.

“Who will train the so-called Neighbourhood Watch members? Who selects and profiles them? Who will have the authority to control them? Who supplies the arms and registers them? Who accounts for their activities?

“Rivers people have been through tears, sorrow and pain in the last four years owing to the activities of thugs, kidnappers, cultists and hired assassins. Giving guns to people who have no formal training in arms handling and discharge may signal another round of mayhem,” he stressed.

Gunmen have again wreaked havoc in Ikot Akpa Idem village in Ukanafun Local Government. They invaded the village on Sunday night and early Monday morning. By the time the village woke up from sleep, two corpses were already down.

Last week, there were in the same village, where they kidnapped a pastor from Qua Iboe Church. Monday morning’s attack was in the same church, where they killed an official who was conducting morning prayers.

The pastors kidnapped last week are yet to be freed till date. TNN learnt that the militants are from the same village and they carried out the latest operation unmasked.

It was learnt that they had earlier given notice to the victim, Unyime Udom, a petty trader, to pay them half a million if he wanted to live there in peace. Udom ignored them. But they visited him with their bullets and ended his life.

Sources said while the boys were terrorising the village, the villagers made frantic distress calls to security operatives in the state but no help came, until the militants accomplished their mission and departed.

About two months ago, in the same village, the militants had chased out a former vice chairman of the local government. They invaded the house, removed all his property and kept them outside, before setting the house on fire. The former council boss is still on asylum till date.

One of the villagers who spoke to TNN said “my brother, this thing has completely gone out of hand o. There are two corpses already now in our village. The boys entered and killed them. We don’t know why.”

Meanwhile, shop owners in Ukanafun are now groaning, as more people are leaving the area due to the increasing insecurity situation. Apart from shop owners, those whose property were being rented by teachers, nurses and other government officials are also suffering same fate.

A survey by TNN showed that from Okoyo to Ikot Ibekwe to Ikot Udo Obobo and up to the Ukanafun Local Government headquarters at Ikot Akpa Nkuk, up to 70 per cent of shops in those areas have been vacated.

It is worse around the major areas in Anwa Uyo Junction, Amiama Agwo junction. Some of the shops along the WASCO road leading to the biggest market in the local government, Urua Akpan Assiek have also been shut, as the tenants have since relocated.

In the recent past, kidnappers have made life miserable for people there. And for fear of being harassed by suspected cultists and militants who have been terrorising the area and the neighbouring local governments, the shop owners decided to close their shops and move either to Abak or Uyo.

As it is now, there is hardly any reasonable shop in the local government headquarters and neighbouring villages.

In the same vein, nurses and teachers have also moved out of their homes for fear of being kidnapped. The kidnappers have been going after teachers and nurses, of late.

The situation has already led to a temporary inactivity in schools. The government decided to ban the activities of commercial motorcycles in the area, as a way of checking the activities of the hoodlums. But even at that, there seem to be no notable result.

It is likely that Apostle Kingsley Abiekunogho may have tricked his many followers in the past and forced them to part with their money or property, just as he allegedly did to Seiyefa Sayou, the man who was made to surrender his SUV car to him in anticipation of a miracle that his anointed prayer would generate. That was in September last year.

Just like other followers of Abiekunogho who flood the God is Able Mega Fire Ministry, Opolo, Bayelsa State regularly for miracles. The prophet calls himself demon destroyer and makes his followers to believe that he has the ability and powers to destroy whatever demons that may be standing between them and prosperity or whatever they are looking for.

That was what Sayou was told by the person who invited him to attend a special prophetic programme with the prophet. He went there riding his SUV believed to be worth N6milion but went home aboard a tricycle. And since September, he has been using tricycles to go to anywhere he needs to go. The prophet collected the SUV from him in the course of the service.

Sayou says he was hoodwinked and hypnotised to surrender his car. The matter is now a subject of litigation. But what seems to be of more interest to him is his car. He wants it back in good condition. He also wants to be alive to enjoy the car. But he is afraid that with the threats he is getting, his life was at stake.

He spoke to TNN over the telephone on this and other issues.

Excerpts:

You are now climbing bike after giving out your N6m jeep to a pastor as a seed. How does it feel?

I wouldn't know. The only thing is that I love God. If God says I should give the last thing, I just believed that it is from God and he is going to reward. I feel bad , but I am just trying to get used to it now because since September, I am getting used to it. How will I do when you don't have money to get another one. I just hoped that God will bring it.

What were the things that were going through your mind that time you decided to handover your car to the pastor?

Nothing. Just that I didn't know myself. I was just like somebody that was hypnotised.

At what point did you get a clear idea of what happened to you?

That was after one month.

What was your wife's first reaction?

When she saw me with polythene bag coming back home, she said what happened to the car? I said well, God asked for the car and I have given it to him. She said 'okay, if it is God. Whatever he asks for, that means he will bless us.' That is the only thing.

When you went to the church and they called you out and asked you to sow the car as a seed to the church, what need did you have that you wanted God to meet?

It was not the car they wanted at first. It was cash they wanted. So, I went out for the seed I had. It was from N100,000. And I had N15,000. I had to go out to go and borrow N5000 to make it N20,000 to go and sow. When the man of God started touching me, asking me how many accounts I had, I said one; he said how much do you have and I said this is all that I have. And he was surprised. Then he asked how many cars do you have and I said one. He asked what kind of car. As he was talking, he was touching me. When I told him, he said give it to God.

You did not object?

What will I do? I was just like a mugu.

Have you been to that church before?

No. It was just an invitation. A friend invited me. After then, somebody was asking me where is your car and I said it is in the mechanic. My brother, I don't want to talk about this thing again. The people are asking me not to talk about it again, I should dialogue. But the matter has been adjourned to April 4.

The matter is before the court. What do you expect from the court?

I really want my car back. They should check and make sure the car is okay, because I sense that the engine has knocked somehow. They have spoilt so many things. When I called to check the price of those things, they were telling me N1.2m. I don't know the extent of damage. But we will call a mechanic and check. If he complies, fine. If he does not want to comply, let the law take its course.

Will you want him to be jailed so that other prophets can learn from that?

Hmmmmm. That is not my concern. What transpired for the matter to go to court is that already at the area command office, we wanted to settle it, after people had talked. They told him to return the car and he kept on posting us, saying he sold the car for N1.5m and the buyer is demanding for N3m. The last day the area commander gave him to return the car, he came back that day and he knew that the matter was not like that again. They told him to go and give the man(who bought my car from him) his own car and return my own car. That is how they did and they recovered my car back. So, the area commander was asking me what do I want and I said I don't want anything since I have seen the car. At that point, the wife stood up and said somebody snapped the husband while they were trying to take him to cell and sent it to one of the journalists and he said he is not going to take it lightly; that I am going to pay for libel. He said he will call his lawyers and the rest of them. So the police decided to take the matter to court.

At the end of the day, if he does not want to agree to your terms of returning your car in good condition, will you want the court to jail him?

I don't really know. I don't really wish anybody that way. My own is for God to touch them to release my car. I want peace. If we check the extent of damage, then he can fix it. But if he wants to prove stubborn, let the law take its place. It is not my wish for anybody to go to jail because of me.

Do you think this is God's way of punishing him for deceiving people?

I don't know, he is saying he is a man of God. I wouldn't know. Mine is that what I wanted did not come to pass. I don't know if he is deceiving people. But me, I really want my car because what he told me has not come to pass.

When you see other prophets now, what are the things that get into your mind about them?

I have decided, this kind of thing has taught me a lesson. I will be careful about this type of churches. I used to be a redeemer. Maybe, it may make me to fall back to that place or Ibiyeomie church. I see so many people sowing seed in that place and giving testimonies but he does not force you. These are the kind of churches I will like to worship, not this one that will want to see your family problems and say your mother is a witch. I want to put a stop to it.

Would you say the man is a fake prophet?

I would say o. If I say it, some persons might say no, that he has done one thing for them. Let God judge. All I want is my car back. One of the elders in his church called me and I told him I don't want any problem. If they come, we will talk and we will put everything in writing and on that day when the matter comes up in court, we will just say we have agreed and submit it to the court and strike the matter out. They say they will meet and see how they can take this matter out of court. So, after their meeting, they will tell me.

Have people threatened your life because of this matter?

Yes, especially some of his boys. Even himself threatened me in the police station. Somebody called me on phone and said that is a black axe member, that if I don't release that car, he is going to deal with me. Then the other guy said he is going to deal with me. Then he himself said he will deal with me, that I should bring the best lawyer; that since I have made him to enter cell, that he is going to deal with me in another way. That is what the pastor said.

Do you feel that your life is in danger right now?

My life is in danger, but I leave it in the hands of God. At least everybody is aware of the matter now. I have reported to my family members. So, if anything happens to me now or after this time, he should be held responsible. He is a spiritualist. It can come by assassins, it can come by anyway.

]]>mikegbali@gmail.com (Super User)ReligionTue, 20 Mar 2018 11:22:08 +0000I Almost Lost My Life Working For Senator Rose Oko’s Election But She Has Failed Our People - Ayade’s Aidehttp://tnnonline.info/index.php/politics2/item/1559-i-almost-lost-my-life-working-for-senator-rose-oko-s-election-but-she-has-failed-our-people-ayade-s-aide
http://tnnonline.info/index.php/politics2/item/1559-i-almost-lost-my-life-working-for-senator-rose-oko-s-election-but-she-has-failed-our-people-ayade-s-aide

Mr Ikpe Emmanuel, special assistant to the governor of Cross River State on special projects has spoken of the determination of the people of Cross River northern senatorial district to work against the re-election of the sitting senator, Rose Oko for what he called non performance and poor representation at the senate.

Ikpe, a native of Atiekpe in the Obudu Local Government of Cross River State said he nearly lost his life in 2015 while working for the senator who was not in the country throughout all the election processes-from primary to the main election.

He said despite the sacrifices that the people made to secure victory for her, the senator had become inaccessible to the people. He also said Oko did not represent them as expected, hence their decision to mobilise against her return to the upper chambers of the National Assembly in 2019.

Excerpts of the interview: I have been in this political business for about 20 years now. I contested as a councillor for about 15 years ago. I have worked hard for our politicians in government both past and present. My team and I have followed the train of politics in Cross River north right from 1999. Till date , my stake in Cross River north politics is to protect and defend rightful candidates.

What sacrifices have you made for politicians in the past? Did you any point in time risk your life? Let's talk about it

I have made a lot of sacrifices for my party. The present senator representing northern Cross River was very sick when we were doing her elections. We needed force and plenty of pressure to win her election which nearly end(sic) my life. My team and I are regretting why we went extra mile in Rose Oko's election because she has not done anything for the people of northern Cross River.

How do you mean, that she has not done anything for the people?

I mean poor representation. We don't want her again. A better person needs to be send(sic) to senate.

In detail, can you say what you expected and why you are disappointed?

Senator Rose Oko has failed. She was supposed to take the five local governments of northern Cross River together, but for 3 years, we don't know whether Cross River north has a senator. See what central and south senators are doing, empowered youths and doing projects that will help the districts.

Considering what you did during the elections, to the extent that your life was at stake, have you made efforts to reach him during these three years?

I expect her to b up to date but she is not. My team and I met her in Abuja to discuss with her what and what we will like her to do to impress the people of her district. She ignored us and sent N10,000 to us and we travelled from Cross River to see her. And this is the person I died for during elections.

Will I be right to say that you are angry with her for not compensating you for the role you played during her election?

I am angry with her for not helping our people of northern Cross River, not me as a person

What criteria will you set for any aspirant before the person can enjoy your support?

He must be a cheerful giver, open minded and ready to empower his people. I will only

If you meet your senator now, what will you tell her?

You have failed us.

And if she asks for explanations, what will you say?

You have failed to empower your people, you only remember your people when it's close to elections.

If she tells you to give her one more chance to prove herself, what will you say?

When four fierce-looking armed men kidnapped 58 year-old father of six, Joshua Asuquo Olugu, from his residence on November 4 last year, little did he know that his ordeal would last so long. Four months after, and still counting, no one is sure if he is still alive in the custody of his captors who took him away in the presence of his wife and children at No. 20 Spatt Avenue , Ekpo Abasi, Calabar South Local Government Area of Cross River state.

The fate of the native of Orumukpong, Oron in Okobo Local government Area of Akwa Ibom State and NNPC retiree remains unknown as the kidnappers have ceased all forms of communication with his family members after the initial demand for ransom did not yield any positive result. Family members are still in a state of shock and confusion as they are not sure if the man is still alive or dead.

According to sources, the gunmen had trailed Asuquo to his residence around 8 .00 pm that fateful day. Soon after he drove into his premises, the gang accosted him. With guns pointed at him, they forced themselves into his Lexus SUV and ordered him to reverse it and drive out of his premises.

One his daughters who witnessed the incident attempted to raise the alarm, but the kidnappers threatened to shoot her if she did not keep quiet. That was the last time the family members would see the man.

Although they reported the incident at the police station, no positive response has come from there since November apart from the arrest of some suspects who have since been freed after interrogation.

It was gathered that a day after Asuquo was taken hostage, the kidnappers contacted the family demanding for N20m ransom before they would release the retiree. The family said they could only afford N400,000 which the kidnappers turned down.

The gang was said to have maintained communication for the first two weeks after the incident, but suddenly stopped.

Efforts to rescue the victim became complicated as the kidnappers were said to have kept calling the family with different phone lines and sending different account numbers of different banks to them for the deal. This made it difficult to understand what the kidnappers were up.

It was gathered that in the course of a telephone conversation between the gang and Asuquo's family, they promised to park Mr. Asuquo's Lexus SUV at a designated point along the highway but they never kept to their promise.

Though some arrests were made at the initial stage of the investigation, after interrogation, and the innocence of the first suspects were proven, they were let off the police hook. The suspects, however, gave some clues as to who sold the phones with which they were tracked.

When TNN met with family members of the kidnapped victim recently in Calabar, Dorcas, his 48 year-old wife, as well as the children were all in agony.

According to Dorcas, life without Asuquo has been traumatic.

"This is one of the most challenging moments of our lives as a family. It's been tortuous and frustrating. We are not sure of his safety because we have been in the dark about his wellbeing and whereabouts.

“The kidnappers have cut off communication with us for a long time now. We are confused. Please let the Cross River state government and security agencies come to our rescue as quickly as possible,” she pleaded.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof. Zana Akpagu has spoken of the institution's commitment to a mutually benefitting partnership with the Nigerian Army, even as he plans to include “security and anti-terrorism studies” to its curriculum.

This is coming on the heels of the successful accreditation of the 22 programmes presented for the endorsement of the Nigeria Universities Commission.

Akpagu, while welcoming the commander, 13 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Calabar, Brigadier General I. Isa, acknowledged the 13 Brigade's role in maintaining peace on campus also said the university had a history of a very cordial and mutually benefitting relationship with the brigade.

In an earlier remark, the commander said though he had not met Akpagu before now, he had heard and felt his impact within the university in the Brigade and beyond, and expressed his appreciation, on behalf of the Brigade, to the Vice Chancellor for all his support.

The commander who said he actually began his career in the military in Ikom, Cross River State, acknowledged the security challenges bedevilling the country and said he considered it expedient to meet with heads of institutions like the university, to promote appropriate synergy.

Meanwhile, Akpagu has commended an alumni of the university, Ms. Inemesit-Abasi Emmanuel, for donating 11 books worth fifty thousand naira to the university library.

Akpagu while receiving the books in his office expressed the university's gratitude to the donor and urged all alumni to emulate her

The Vice Chancellor, who handed the books over to the Institution's Librarian, Dr. (Mrs.) Nkoyo Edem, charged her to ensure the books were put to judicious use even as he affirmed that they will definitely enrich the University's library collections.

In a forwarding letter from the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, (NIPSS), the Director of Studies, Prof. Celestine O. Bassey, stated that the donation is in line with the expression of Corporate Social Assistance tradition of the NIPSS, expected of her distinguished course participants.

According to the Director of Studies, “the donation is in line with the campaign of Social Science Academy and Nigerian Political Science Association to upgrade the “knowledge content” or epistemic resources of students of Social Sciences in our universities through popularization of text books by Nigerian authors and Academic Associations.”

Meanwhile, the vice chancellor has described Fulbright Scholars as the future of Nigeria, saying that their wealth of knowledge is vital to the economic and educational development of the country.

Akpagu said this during the 14th Annual Conference of the Fulbright Alumni Association of Nigeria ( FAAN) with the theme ' Nigeria's Economy in the 21st Century: Lessons from recession and Prospects for Re- orientation.

He said, "recession was experienced in Nigeria when industries and tourists left the country due to unfavourable business environment caused by stringent government policies"

This came as he appreciated the National Organizing Committee of FAAN for granting UNICAL the hosting right of its conference, adding that the conference encourages beneficial exchanges of ideas which would in turn lead to educational and economic advancement.

Akpagu also encouraged the Fulbright scholars to close ranks and work in unison in order to achieve maximum results adding that, "you are a special breed of people who occupies a special place in my heart. The country really needs you"

In his welcome address, National President of the Fulbright Association of Nigeria (FAAN), Prof Adagba Okpaga commended the Vice Chancellor for welcoming them with open arms, stressing that it shows that he is truly passionate about academic excellence.

He said FAAN is poised to collaborate with both government and other institutions as well as make proposals for research purposes.

Akwa Ibom State government recently announced the imposition of a curfew in two local governments of Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo. In making the announcement, the commissioner for information, Charles Udoh made reference to the level of insecurity in the two local governments as reasons for the action.

According to the commissioner, the curfew is to remain between the hours of 6pm and 7am daily. Apart from the curfew, the government had also announced the prohibition of the use of motorcycles in the two local governments, as well as in Ika and Ikot Ekpene local governments. The statement did not, however, say if human beings can still move on foot at night.

Be that as it may, it is instructive to note that the governor, the government and indeed the commissioner for information now realises that there are not just pockets of criminal activities in Etim Ekpo, for example. They seem to have realised that hoodlums may have seized power, literarily, in those local governments. This is a sharp contrast from the government's earlier position on the level of insecurity. The government needs to be commended for accepting the hard truth and taking steps to deal with the situation. It was wrong, really wrong, for the government to claim that the situation was not as serious as it was being reported.

With the imposition of curfew in Ukanafun and Etim Ekpo, we are however doubtful of what the action will achieve. The reason is that most of the criminal attacks, kidnapping and killings are done in the afternoon-in broad day light that is.

Two weeks ago when the hoodlums stormed Etim Ekpo and undertook a parade towards Ukanafun, it was in the afternoon. They spent quite sometime at Anwa Uyo Junction in Ukanafun, shooting and demonstrating raw bravado, unchallenged. That was in the afternoon.

When the visited Ikot Udo Obobo last week to kidnap a widow, Madam Ime Udodung, it was in the afternoon. So, declaring a curfew that will last between dusk and dawn may not really solve the problem.

We still believe that one of the major solutions to the security hiccup is adequate funding of the security agencies. The security operatives themselves talked about this last week when they met at the office of the state commissioner of police. The soldiers that are kept at the security village in Ukanfun needs to be properly taken care of and their intelligence gathering machinery well oiled.

Secret police should be sufficiently deployed in the local governments to gather information about the whereabouts and operational activities of the hoodlums. Also, it will not be out of place to heed to the advice of Mr Emmanuel Enoidem, who recently suggested that the governor should not adopt non conventional approach in tackling the issue. The government needs to take the matter much more seriously.

This is a state that can hardly raise N1Billion per month as its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), in addition to the backlog of a huge debts profile mostly being serviced at source. Gov Ayade's measure of expanded budget becomes more ridiculous and nauseating when considered from the perspective that most of the State's bank loans are tied to Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs) duly registered with the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF) with regards to direct deductions from the state's monthly allocation from the Federation Account. These sums up to the fact that Cross River State has a highly depleted monthly revenue allocation from the Federation Account. Besides, in running a deficit budget there is a standard threshold of not more than 3% of GDP that should be applied according to the Fiscal Responsibility Act. Ostensibly, this Act has not been domesticated at the Cross River State level but it could serve as a guiding light in the state's budgetary process.

I've read a few narratives from some of the governor's aides that were capitalized in staunch endorsement of his “audacious” N1.3Trillion 2018 budget of kinetic crystallization. What I find entirely strange in these narratives is the strenuous attempt to extrapolate that Senator Benedict Ayade is simply reinventing the wheels in our entire budgetary process and he is set to bring it up to speed with conventional budgeting system. This sounds laughable and constitutes a brazen display of crass ignorance of the principles of budgeting and public finance. A budget estimate of N1.3trillion is an indication that Cross River State is proposing to run about 98% deficit budget in 2018 fiscal year with an increase of over 300% from the last budget estimates. This should not be. It is amusing that such a “landmark” budget would be proposed in a pre-election year with all the distractions in governance that will ensue as a build up to the 2019 general elections. Obviously the Governor will be desperately angling for what many consider as an undeserved second term bid.

I've read some extracts from the governor's budget speech on the reasons for the expansive budget proposal where he alluded to expected inflows from foreign investors on his “signature projects”. This is a grave error and extremely hollow disposition of a man who should know better. Since when did investors fund become part of a state budget? This argument is not only speculative but also against the well known principles and practice of budgeting. Investors' fund does not in any way constitute part of a state budget. This is alien to budgeting and public financial management.

At best, what should have been done was to capture the State's counterpart funding in the projects in the event of a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as the model of investment. The expected tax receipts from the investors and would-be employees' taxes could be captured in the budget NOT the investors fund as proposed by the governor. In any case, the idea of making provision for tax receipts from an investment outlay with an unpredictable maturation period as a line item in a budget with a one year life span amounts to a mere academic exercise which is not practicable. Again, for a budget that is constraint by a time lag of one year for its implementation, the financial contribution of the state to a project as a cost center in the proposed estimate should be restricted to one year and not the entire gestation period of the project which could be more than a year.

A key rule in budget presentation is a report on the performance and percentage implementation of the previous budget. How far has Gov Benedict Ayade implemented the last budget of N305 billion? The answer could serve as a prelude to his commitment or otherwise to the bogus budget of N1.3trillion for the 2018 fiscal year. Drawing from the experience of the last two years, it appears Gov Ayade's budget performance indicators are always shrouded in absolute secrecy. In the practice of public sector budgeting, openness is the norm. Government is a social contract and power is held in thrust for the people. To that extent, Gov Benedict Ayade is under obligation to tell Cross Riverians the source of the funds to execute the proposed unprecedented deficit budget; the tenor, terms and conditions of these funds should be in the public domain. Unfortunately, these fundamental principles in the practice of public sector budgeting are completely missing in the Cross River State budget template under the current administration.

Suffice it to say that the framework of a public sector budget is built on some fundamental assumptions and key benchmarks drawn from carefully articulated fiscal/financial policies of government, capital improvement plan and reasonable forecast. To that end, there is no gainsaying the fact that Gov Benedict Ayade's budget template from inception has always defied all known parameters, principles and simple logic of public finance. The template is not only flawed and churning out absolutely unrealistic budget estimates, but it is also mysterious to budgeting, to say the least. Until a radical change is urgently effected in the current budget template, Cross River State will continue to buckle under the increasing weight of lackluster budgetary performance with a concomitant toll on the local economy.